Arthritis
Every month I get inspired to write more and more because of the silly stuff I hear about sales pitches from customers.  Here is some of it.

"Only our spas are rated for use by the Arthritis Foundation."   This was told to me by a woman with arthritis who was about to buy one of their spas, based upon the salesman's false implications.

First of all, arthritis is a painful disease.  Not fun at all.   I don't understand why some sales guy would play on a person's pain like that!  Why not be truthful?  I know that is a difficult thing for these sleazy people, but how do they live with themselves.

It has been my understanding from talking with sufferers of this affliction that the water jets at times may not be the best therapy for inflamed joints, depending on the type of arthritis.   In hospitals, they use bubble therapy most of the time, because it doesn't apply pressure to an already sore joint.  Or they use a whirlpool of low pressure water.

The spa this sales guy was trying to sell has no air bubble jets at all.  It is not even built to the ANSI Safety standards.   The woman would have to just sit in still water in order to not have jets on her sore joints.
Or she would have to sit in a seat without the jets turned on and let the other jets swirl some water around.

I would like to see all spa manufactures not use any medical ailments as part of their sales propaganda with the implication of any superiority to any other product for the disease.   It is a low blow to the industry to imply that only their spas are good for arthritis!  Let me give a clue here:

All hot tubs are good for arthritis!   Blower therapy is preferred, because it doesn't apply pressure to inflamed joints.

The other issue with this company is that they publish the Arthritis Foundation Logo on their website.  I have to tell you just how "skanky", low life, and disgusting that is.  It is against the BBB Advertising guidlines to put "implied indorsements" by a not for profit organization in any form of advertising.  It is also against the FTC guidelines for advertisers to do so.  The disgusting implication is that these cheaply made overpriced spas have some superior arthritis effects over other brands of hot tubs (Most spas are better made than these inferior products.).  It is really very bad.

The Arthritis Foundation is unprofessional and inconsiderate of poeple with this disease,  for allowing this.  Are they going to be the whore of these spa companies, becasue they get contributions from them?  

Any company who uses charitble conrtibutions as a way to sell is disgusting.   I never ever publish my charity contributions as a way to sell something.  It is against all morals and ehtics to do so.  I never solicit any person from church to buy from me either.  It is against morals and etics to attend church in order to make money from people coming to worship.   This is all in the same "basket" of weak people who can't operate a business ethically.   If a church member approaches you for professional help, that is different.  But never hand out business cards at chruch, or solicit people for sales there. I just don't understand how people get so screwed up because of money.

When I was taught how to plumb a spa, we used primer and glue to make the joints not leak.   I have seen loose flex PVC, just hanging there is spas over 16 years old, right at the pump where the pressure is the greatest.   Please don't believe that one!

Actually the best way to keep the spa from leaking for the longest time is the use solid PVC  as much as possible.  On smaller tubing it is a good idea to place them in foam or to tie them.  If a pipe is moving inside the spa it needs to be tied or held, but full foam is not needed for any spa design.

100% Filtration
I never seem to get tired of explaining this one,   It is written in my book and now here it is on the web for your benefit.
There is no such thing as 100% filtration!   There!  I've got it off my chest.  Now I feel better.

"There is no such thing as 100% filtration in a hot tub or swimming pool."

Whenever the term 100% filtration and a tiny circulation pump are used in a brochure, it becomes consumer fraud, or extremely close to consumer fraud.  This is only one of the several reasons why the tiny circ pump is ridiculous engineering.

The best filtration available today (1999) is running a modern two speed pump on low speed 35 to 50 GPM, using a check valve on the open suction in the bottom that closes when the pump is on low speed.  When the pump is filtering with this configuration, a lot of water is moved quickly into the filter.

Now, 2005, we have full size super energy efficient 48 frame and 56 frame real, circulation, water pumps that move 35 to 40 Gallons Per Minute for up to 24 hours per day.
These pumps are used on our SC and SE spas.  We were one of the first companies to use these real circulation pumps.

Filtering is a long process, because as the filtered water returns into the spa vessel, it is mixed with the other water containing debris.   As the water circulates, gradually more and more particles of debris are filtered out.  We have found that six to eight hours per day (15,000 to 25,000 gallons per day)  is required to get good clear water with most of  the debris filtered out.

The common method of so called "100%" filtration is to completely block the suction of the spa pump with a filter, and not allow any water to go into the pump that is not passed through the filter (no check valve).   There are a couple of engineering problems with this.  1/   The jets get weaker as the filters get dirty and clogs up.   The only time the jets have full pressure is with brand new filters.   2/  The worst thing to do with a pump is to block the suctions and give the pump more work to do with less felt jet pressure.   This increases electrical usage and your electric bill. 3/ It violates the ANSI safety standards for portable spas.

I have had customers bring in filters that are caved in on the sides from the pump trying to get water.   The first time I saw one of these filters,  I knew there was something wrong with this filter system, so I started my investigation.
I talked the other day with an expert on water pumps.  He is an engineer from a different field, that uses the same types of pumps that spas do.  He told me that when you apply back pressure to a spa pump, it is no where near as dumb as holding back the water on the suction side.   The amperage goes up if the suction is restricted.
I have seen pumps burn out from having too small of a suction or filter restricted suctions.   I have seen this in two different spa brands, both with so called "100%" filtration.
In our spas we allow water to be drawn in from the bottom and the top.  If there is any restriction in the filter, the water has another path, and does not cause the pump to overheat, or the jet pressure to drop.   If you know of a better way, be sure to let me know!